Machine for cleaning rice, &amp;c.



Patented July 29, I902.

R. W. WELCH.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING RICE, 8L0. (Application filed Dec. 19, 1900. R newed Dec. 19, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l. I

(No Model.)

wi/wwaw ma ucnms PETERS co. PHOYQIJI'NQ. WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 705,985. Patented July 29,1902.

R. W. WELCH.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING RICE, 8L0.

Application filed Dec. 19, 1900. Renewed Dec/19, 1901.\

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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61 liter up improved cleaning device.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGEE.

ROSIA W. WELCH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO SOUTHERN RICEPOLISHING MACHINE COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A'CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

MACHINE FORICLEANING RlC E,.&c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 705,985, dated July 29, 1902. Application filed December 19, 1900. Renewed December 19,1901. Serial No. 86,584:- INO mo el-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROSIA W..WELOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cleaning Rice and other Hard Grain and'Seeds, of which the following is a specification. s I

The purpose of myinvention is to provide a machine for cleaning rice and other hard grains or seeds in which the cleaning and polishing of the material is largely accomplished by the attrition between the particles of grain.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a central vertical section through a machine illustrating my invention. tral longitudinal section throughthe same. Fig. 3 is aview of a modified form of apparatus, shown partly in central section.- Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the same. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views showing portions of the sinuous screens in their different relative positions, and Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modification. I V.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, A and Brepresent the two members of my The member A, as shown in said figures, comprises a frame consisting of two circular heads 1 and 2, which are united by a series of cross-bars 3, arranged upon the peripheries of the heads at equal distances apart, the entire frame being supported by suitable standards 4. Secured to the under sides of the cross-bars 3 is an annular sinuous screen '5, in which are formed openings 6 and 7, opposite which are arranged inlet and discharge chutes 8 and 9, respectively. The screen 5 is surrounded by a suitable sectional covering 10, which may be removed for the purpose of cleaning the machine or renewing the screens, and this covering is provided with a suitable suctionpipe 11, adapted to be connected to a fan, the opposite sides of the covering having airinlet openings 12. The screen 5 has a hinged lower section 13, which may be opened after the cover is removed for the purpose of cleaning out the interior of the machine. The

Fig. 2 is a cenmember B, as shown in said figures, consists of a ring or wheel 14, fitting closely within the heads 1 and 2 and mounted upon a shaft 15, the latter beingjournaled in bearings 16, located centrally in the heads of the part A. Upon the periphery of the ring 14 is an annular sinuous screen 17, having undulations corresponding in number and form with the undulations in the screen 5. The space between the screens is inclosed at the ends by the heads 1 and 2. The member Bis adapted to be driven by power applied to a suitable pulley 18 upon the shaft. The chutes 8 and 9 are provided with valves 19 and 20, respectively. As the elevations and depressions in the opposing screens correspond in number, it will be seen that when the rotatable member is turned so as to bring the elevations opposite one another a series of pockets extending around the machine will be formed between the screens, as shown in Fig. 5, and that when the depressions in one screen are opposite the elevations in the other screen the screens will be parallel throughout, as shown in Fig. 1, and no pockets will be formed.

In operation the rice or other grain is poured into the hopper 8. The rotation of the member B in the direction indicated by the arrow carries the grain around, alternately inclosing it within the pockets and then compacting and rubbing it forward into the succeeding pockets. Fig. 6 shows the screens in the intermediate position between those shown in Figs. 1 and 5. When in the relative positions shown in Fig. 5, the two sinuous screens form a series of pockets 0, which inclose the grain on all sides excepting the narrow spaces between the high or adjacent parts 0. b of the screens. These high parts are just sufliciently separated to prevent crushing the grain between them. As the memberB moves forward from the position shown in'Fig. 5 the grain is compacted and part of it forced forward out of the pockets by the elevated portions 1) of the screen 17 into the adjoining pockets, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 6. This process of forcing the grain from pocket to pocket causes the grains to rub upon each other with sufficient friction to clean and polish them without breakage. It will be seen that the grain is carried slowly around from the feed to the discharge opening and at the same time worked back and forth radially and subjected to a great amount of attrition. The grain which comes in contact with the screens will also be polished by the screens; but the main part of the work is carried on by the attrition of the grains upon themselves. The gate 20 with some classes of grain may be left open, the polishing and cleaning being accomplished by the time the grain has made a partial revolution in themachine. With other grain in which it is desired to produce a high polish the gatez20 may be left closed sufficiently long to produce the desired result. The chaff and dust which come from the grain are thrown out by centrifugal force and the air-currents generated by the moving member and are carried off by the draft through the pipe 11.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification of my apparatus, in which the members A and 13 are horizontally arranged, the member A being secured to a fixed tubular standard 21 and the member B being secured to a sleeve journaled upon a shart 22, secured to said standard, said sleeve 22 being provided with a suitable pulley In this figure the sinuous screens are vertically arranged. The member A comprises a supporting disk 24, upon the outer edge of which is arranged an annular grated ring 25, surrounding the innor member,and an annular flange 26, mounted upon the ring 25 and inclosing the space between the two screens 5 and 17. The screen 5 is attached to the gratings 27 of the ring 25. The feed-hopper 28 is mounted upon the ring 26, and the outlet-hopper 29 is secured to the plate 24:. In this figure I have also shown a series of openings 30 extending through the ring 14 of the inner member for the purpose of permitting air to flow therethrough. The operation of cleaning and polishing is the same as previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, the grain being alternately pocketed and then compacted and rubbed into the adjoining pockets. In this figure the chaff and dust are driven off through the outer screen 17 by centrifugal force and the air-current generated by the motion of the inner member and air is drawn in through the openings 30 t0 the space between the screens. While this arrangement is operative, it is not so desirable as the form of ma chine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for the reason that in said figures the grain becomes more evenly distributed along the screens, while in Fig. 3 the grain becomes more compacted at the bottom of the space between the screens than at the top.

It is not essential that the two sinuous rub hing-surfaces should be made of screens or perforated metal. It is desirable to have the outer surface perforated in order to permit the chaff and dust to escape; but the inner rubbing-surface may be made of a solid strip, as shown at 31, Fig. 7, the outer surface of said strip being preferably roughened. The ring of the inner member runs close enough within the heads of the outer member to prevent the escape of grain.

The apparatus may be arranged so that either member or both members may be revolved; but for mechanical reasons I prefer to let the outer member remain stationary and revolve the inner member.

The surfaces 5 and 17 are wavy or sinuous-that is, they form a series of gentle re verse curves in contradistinction to an abruptly corrugated or toothed surface. In my machine the grain is carried forward at a moderate rate, none of it traveling as rapidly as the rotating screens 17, whereas in machines provided with corrugated or toothed surfaces a portion of the grain will be carried forward between the corrugations and imperfectly treated. This is especially the case in machines in which the corrugated surfaces are separated to a considerable extent, so that no distinct pockets are formed between them, such as are illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be understood, therefore, that by the term sinuous I mean a reverselycurved surface having a wavy outline, such as that illustrated in the drawings accompanying this application. It is essential to the proper operation of the present machine that the grain be con fined at the ends of the pockets or spaces between the screens or sinuous surfaces. This is accomplished in the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by the circular heads 1 and 2 and in the machine shown in Fig. 3 by the plate 24 and ring 2 The grain being confined laterally must submit to the radial shifting, which is caused to take place rapidly by the rotation of the member B.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-= l. A grain-cleaning machine comprising two members, one of which is rotatable, each of its members having an annular sinuous surface opposed to the like surface of the other member,the high or contiguous portions 01., b of said surfaces being close to each other in passing to temporarily form pockets and being only separated sufficiently to prevent grinding the grain between them, walls for confining the grain in the space between said surfaces whereby it is caused to travel circumferentially, and inlet and discharge openings to said space.

2. A grain-cleaning machine comprising two members, one of which is rotatable, each of its members having an annular roughened sinuous surface opposed to the like surface of the other member, the high or contiguous portions (1., b of said surfaces being close to each other in passing to temporarily form pockets and being only separated sufficiently to prevent grinding the grain between them, walls for confining the grain in the space be- IIO tween said surfaces whereby it is caused to travel circumferentially, and inlet and discharge openings to said space.

3. A grain-cleaning machine comprising 5 two members, one of which is rotatable, each of its members having an annular sinuous screen opposed to the like screen of the other member, the high or contiguous portions a, b of said screens being close to each other in I0 passing to temporarily form pockets and being only separated sufficiently to prevent grinding the grain between them, walls for confining the grain in the space between said surfaces whereby it is caused to travel circumferentially, and inlet and discharge openings to said space.

In testimony whereof I affix my'signatu re in presence of two witnesses.

ROSIA' W. WELGH. Witnesses:

G. R. HOHNES, v ALFRED B. BENES'IEIN. 

